There is little question Lightning goalie Ben Bishop has struggled thus far in the Eastern Conference final, but coach Jon Cooper said Saturday that an inquiry posed about a possible goalie switch was “asinine.”

The 6-foot-7 Bishop has given up five goals in consecutive games, and the Lightning and Rangers are tied in the best-of-seven 2-2 going into Sunday night’s Game 5 at the Garden. When Cooper was told — for some reason — “asinine” might not make it into a newspaper, the former lawyer came up with another adjective.

“Preposterous,” Cooper said. “OK, that’s one more syllable than asinine. It’s more powerful.”

The Rangers just went through this whole process, with questions about Henrik Lundqvist circling after he gave up six goals in both Games 2 and 3. Rangers coach Alain Vigneault laughed that question off the day before Game 4, saying, “Hank’s the guy,” then watched as Lundqvist had a 38-save performance in a 5-1 win.

Asked on Saturday if he thinks his team has gotten to Bishop, Vigneault wasn’t biting.

“I’m going to worry about my players and get them ready,” he said, “and I’m sure their coach is probably doing the same thing.”

Cooper began the defense of his goalie by pumping up Bishop, citing how he has played prior to this series.

“I just don’t think you get here to this point in the season and even into the playoffs without having a goaltender, a guy that bails you out when you need to be bailed out,” Cooper said.

“Ben Bishop has bailed us out some games. Have we bailed him out? Sure we have sometimes. But for the most part, Bishop has been rock-solid for us.”

Bishop has a 2.21 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage through 17 playoff games. He was pulled once, 25:08 into Game 4 of the second round against the Canadiens after giving up three goals on 14 shots in a game the Lightning lost 6-2.

“There is a brighter light on him, and all he’s done is passed every test that gets sent his way,” Cooper said. “The tighter the game has got, and the more pressure packed the series got, Ben Bishop got better, and you can’t ask any more than that.